Re: [Marxism] Anarchists' perception of Trotsky
== Rule #1: YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. == I agree basically with what Mark L. wrote however it is not an abstraction, at all. Anarchism of a million varieties are very common around the world and, in our recent budget battle in California, they were the *largest* 'trend' among radicalizing students, at least in No. California which was the heart of the movement. It is more than an "inspiration" but a serious, damn, ultra-left trend of very important impact. Probably only in California and not the rest of the US but it's serious shit out here. Just about every major debate over tactics involved one wing dominated by the anarchist inspried youth. I only wish the anarchist were more like the historic anarcho-syndicalists who at least beleived IN organization and didn't shun it. David Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Anarchists' perception of Trotsky
== Rule #1: YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. == History provides many examples of strikes, insurgencies and attempted revolutions performed by decentralized, if not actually spontaneous risings. Regrettably, they come to naught unless a leadership emerges quickly or takes charge of centralizing the effort. The real possibilities were tested in the 1870s with the Paris Commune or 1877 strike in the U.S. If radicals have tended to overemphasize centralization and coordination--and I think they have--it has been in reaction to the horrifying failure of decentralized models in terms of taking and holding power. On the other hand, anarchism has since supplied inspiration for organization but never much in terms of real organization. Most of the examples to the contrary are more accurately hyphenated hybrids of some sort (council communism, syndicalism, etc.) In the end, though, the labels and abstractions mean little. I suspect most of us on this list respond to concrete material conditions, events, and movements. ML Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Anarchists' perception of Trotsky
== Rule #1: YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. == It begs the question.how do anarchists take power? Erik > On 1:59 PM, Louis Proyect wrote: > In fact it is more likely that space aliens will come down in flying > saucers and impose socialism on the human race then for anarchists to > ever take power. > > Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Anarchists' perception of Trotsky
==
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==
David Thorstad wrote:
> This strikes me as a sound prediction. However, judging from the history
> of the American Left, and the supine lack of response of the working
> class ("proletariat") to the ongoing crisis of capitalism, the question
> is, Why wouldn't it also apply to socialists?
There are other criteria involved when judging the relevance of a
political current. The CPUSA was an indispensable element of the
formation of industrial unions and the civil rights movement. The SWP
was critical to the antiwar movement. If breaking Starbucks windows is
defined as a sine qua non for revolutionary politics, then I guess the
anarchists might be considered.
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Re: [Marxism] Anarchists' perception of Trotsky
==
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==
On 1:59 PM, Louis Proyect wrote:
In fact it is more likely that space aliens will come down in flying
saucers and impose socialism on the human race then for anarchists to
ever take power.
==
This strikes me as a sound prediction. However, judging from the history
of the American Left, and the supine lack of response of the working
class ("proletariat") to the ongoing crisis of capitalism, the question
is, Why wouldn't it also apply to socialists?
DT
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